Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Mastitis history and symptoms
Introduction
Overview
Overview
In most cases, patients may present a few days after delivery with localized breast complaints. The affected area is often close to the nipple and areola and commonly occurs on the upper inner side of the breast. The affected area usually occurs only on one breast and very rarely is the whole breast affected.
The most common symptoms of mastitis include: redness of the affected area, pain local to the affected area and local differential warmth.[1][2] Some patients may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as aches, shivering and chills, although this is less common.
History and Symptoms
History and Symptoms
In most cases, patients may present a few days after delivery with localized breast complaints. The affected area is often close to the nipple and areola and commonly occurs on the upper inner side of the breast. The affected area usually occurs only on one breast and very rarely is the whole breast affected.
Most common symptoms
The most common symptoms of mastitis include:[1][2]
- Redness of the affected area,
- Pain local to affected area
- Diffuse density/palpable mass of varying volume
- Local differential warmth
- Swollen lymph nodes on the affected side, rarely both sides
Less common symptoms
Some patients may also experience flu-like symptoms such as:
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kent JC, Ashton E, Hardwick CM, Rowan MK, Chia ES, Fairclough KA; et al. (2015). “Nipple Pain in Breastfeeding Mothers: Incidence, Causes and Treatments”. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 12 (10): 12247–63. doi:10.3390/ijerph121012247. PMC 4626966. PMID 26426034.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 An JK, Woo JJ, Lee SA (2016). “Non-puerperal mastitis masking pre-existing breast malignancy: importance of follow-up imaging”. Ultrasonography. 35 (2): 159–63. doi:10.14366/usg.15024. PMC 4825209. PMID 26169080.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]